MEGAPLEX DEBATE CONTINUES AS PANEL LOOKS INTO PR PUSH

     Massport Exec Dir Stephen Tocco argued that only the sports
pieces of a megaplex can draw private investment which can be
used to reduce the amount of public funds needed for a convention
center.  Meanwhile, House Ways and Means Chair Thomas Finneran, a
megaplex opponent, said legislative support for a convention
center-only bond issue would be a "deadlock cinch" as long as it
was backed by a hotel "shelf" tax to kick in if revenues failed
to cover the costs.  Tocco has called for a p.r. campaign to push
for a full megaplex as a job generator for Boston's inner city.
Tocco said Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter will
help lead a pro-megaplex effort (Phil Primack, BOSTON HERALD,
7/20).  Members of the megaplex commission have expressed
"chagrin" that five weeks after filing legislation to authorize
construction of the project, House Speaker Charles Flaherty still
has not assigned a bill to a committee (Richard Kindleberger,
BOSTON GLOBE, 7/20).